Reflection for December 11

Bro. Michael Moran, C.P., Sacred Heart

Matthew 11:28-30

β€œAll you have to do is ask!”

Today in Isaiah 40:31, we learn β€œπ‘‡β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘π‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ πΏπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›π‘’π‘€ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›π‘”π‘‘β„Ž.” Then in Psalm 103, we learn β€œπ»π‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘–π‘›π‘–π‘žπ‘’π‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘’π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘  π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑠.” Finally in Matthew 11:28, we learn β€œπΆπ‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘’, π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘€β„Žπ‘œ π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘Ÿ, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘’π‘‘, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝐼 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘‘.” All these readings today show us that we have a loving God, a God that we can go to when in need. Whether the need be physical, spiritual, or emotional, he is there for us and all we need to do is ask.

The message in today’s gospel can mean different things to different people. For me, this passage gave me the courage to call on the Lord to help me during very tough times in my life. The first step was to give it up to the Lord (β€œπΆπ‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘’β€). Once I did that, a weight lifted from me. The Lord placed people in my life who helped me get through these tough times. He also would lead me to people that I could help---others who were going through similar situations, which allowed me to be the one to help lift their burdens and help them carry their loads. One such story was of a woman (a total stranger to me) who started talking to me of a procedure she was going to have the following day. It was the same procedure that I had gone through a year earlier. She was scared and was torn because others were not supporting her decision. I shared what I did and suggested she search her heart and talk to God about it. After all, this is her decision, something she must live with the rest of her life. I do not know the outcome of our conversation, but when we parted, she seemed like the burden had been lifted from her. For some reason, God placed us in each other’s paths.

Let God renew your strength, heal your ills, give you hope and lessen that load you carry. Don’t be afraid to ask the Lord for help. Not only will he lift your burden, but he might lead you to lift the burdens of others, as well.

Cheryl Gosselin

Caelie Flanagan